Pablo Morales started 2022 with a bang, riding five winners to move into second place in the early-season jockey standings at Tampa Bay Downs in Oldsmar, Fla.
Morales, a 33-year-old from Lima, Peru, got things going Jan. 1 by sweeping the early daily double. He won the first race on Imtakinittothebank, a 4-year-old Florida-bred gelding owned by Volar Corporation and trained by Kathleen O'Connell. Morales captured the second race on Jack Rabbit Quick, another 4-year-old Florida-bred gelding bred and owned by Endsley Oaks Farm and trained by Rafael Schistl.
Morales's next victory came in the fifth, when he kept 8-year-old campaigner Nick the Cardshark to the task through the stretch to defeat long shot Killeen by a head. Jose H. Delgado trains Nick the Cardshark for owner Carole Star Stables. Morales then won the ninth race, the Lambholm South Race of the Week, on 6-year-old gelding Mystic Link for owner Kelly's Racing and trainer Jon Arnett.
By winning the 10th, the Male Division of the Tampa Turf Test aboard 6-year-old gelding Dazzling Truths, Morales accomplished the rare feat of winning both halves of the early and late daily doubles. Dazzling Truths is owned by Sabal Racing Stables and Patrick Rhodes and trained by Darien Rodriguez, the same connections to win the Tampa Turf Test Fillies and Mares Division with Vip Nation.
Morales got the most out of Dazzling Truths through the stretch, powering him to a 1 ¾-length victory from Bird's Eye View. He paid $6.80 to win after completing the 1-mile distance in 1:37.50.
Morales also had a second and a third from eight mounts. It was his second career five-victory day at Tampa Bay Downs, having gone 5-for-5 on May 4, 2019 (Kentucky Derby Day). Morales rode five winners on back-to-back days on Aug. 23 and Aug. 24 at Presque Isle Downs, where he was the runaway jockey champion.
Approaching the 10th race, Morales knew he was in a zone and feeling good about his chances. “I'm sure it helped (winning three of the first five races), because everything flows and I was confident and happy. But it was also a factor that I was sitting on good horses and trying to give them good trips,” Morales said.
“I'm hoping this helps me get a little more business, because I think I'm doing pretty well. I don't even ride Wednesday, but I'm happy to at least be able to win some races with what I have. Hopefully, this will open more doors and create more opportunities and I can take advantage. God willing, I'll stay healthy and I'll keep working hard and I think I'll be alright.
“Of all the racetracks I've ridden, you don't take anything for granted here,” he added. “It's definitely not easy, so days like this I feel very lucky to go home to my family happy and to be able to keep working to gain more wins.”
Through Jan. 1, Antonio Gallardo leads the jockey standings with 19 victories, followed by Morales with 18 and Samy Camacho with 17.
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